SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Draining the swamp: Does Trump know what that means?

Dec 8, 2016, 5:09 PM | Updated: Dec 9, 2016, 12:56 pm

draining the swamp...

Steven Mnuchin, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Treasury Secretary, arrives at Trump Tower, in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

(AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Does Donald Trump know what “draining the swamp” actually means?

I made a promise when I began this show that I would always tell you the truth as I see it. If I was ever told by anyone in management or ownership what position to take on something, I would quit.

Trump made a bad choice with Steven Mnunchin

And you know I didn’t ride the Trump train. But I’m happy with people who are joyful that he is in office. And I see good signs from the way he’s handling things early on.

But the flip side of this is that I spent serious time in Washington D.C. as an “insider” and I’m going to tell you the truth — I don’t buy that Trump really sees the depth of “the swamp” in D.C. And that might make it difficult when it comes to draining the swamp.

The fact that Trump has nominated Steve Mnuchin, who has grifted your tax dollars, who is tied to Goldman Sachs, and who made $1.6 billion dollars from the government for foreclosing on homes, shows that Trump is not really serious about draining the swamp. And the Senate should say ‘no’ to Mnuchin.

As far as Secretary of State, their first responsibility is not to the President, it us to “we the people” and to the Constitution.

I think Trump needs a counterbalance to himself; someone who can help form policy. He doesn’t need yes men because Trump is not a detail man. Smart executives hire their opposites; they look for people who can do what they don’t do well.

Is looking to people like Romney and Giuliani really draining the swamp?
I think if we can forgive David Petraeus, he may be the best choice (of the people Trump is considering). Petraeus is used to serving presidents and to being heard.

I want a Secretary of State whose loyalty is to the Constitution, the American people and then the President, in that order.

As always, please listen to the full audio clip for complete context.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

fire vacant tacoma house...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Vacant Tacoma house destroyed in early-morning fire, neighboring home damaged

A vacant, boarded-up home in Tacoma was heavily damaged in an early-morning fire Friday, according to Tacoma Fire.

9 minutes ago

pse rate increases climate commitment act...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

Jake and Spike: Washington’s climate laws are driving PSE rate increases

KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill tied the PSE rate increases to two state laws: the Climate Commitment Act and the Clean Energy Transformation Act.

23 minutes ago

FILE - Chantemekki Fortson, mother of slain U.S. Air Force senior airman Roger Fortson, holds a pho...

Associated Press

Jury acquits fired Florida sheriff’s deputy in killing of Black U.S. Airforce Airman Roger Fortson

A former Florida sheriff’s deputy has been found not guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the killing of a Black U.S. Air Force airman fatally shot at his apartment during a domestic disturbance call. An Okaloosa County jury acquitted Eddie Duran, 38, on Thursday. Duran had faced up to 30 years in prison. Duran, […]

34 minutes ago

People react as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Choctaw Event Center, Thur...

Associated Press

Trump heads to Alabama: ‘I go there because they want to see me there’

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — President Donald Trump will continue his midterm campaign swing with a rally in deep red Alabama Friday, returning to the place where he drew his first mega crowd. Trump will be stumping for Republican candidates, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running against former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones for Alabama governor, […]

34 minutes ago

FILE - North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley listens as President Donald Trump...

Associated Press

Senate Republicans move cash from purple North Carolina to red Kansas as battle for majority shifts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans’ top campaign spending organization is pulling back in North Carolina and pouring money into Kansas, a striking shift that shows how the party’s plan to keep its majority has turned into an increasingly defensive fight ahead of November’s midterms. The decision by the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned […]

35 minutes ago

A tarp covers a portions of the signage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Thur...

Associated Press

Kennedy Center Honors to be held at Capital One Arena amid fight over adding Trump’s name

This year’s Kennedy Center Honors will be held at Washington’s Capital One Arena, not the riverfront building that’s been at the center of a legal fight over adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building. The 49th annual awards are set to take place at Washington’s downtown arena, a Kennedy Center spokesperson said Friday. Few […]

52 minutes ago

Draining the swamp: Does Trump know what that means?